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| Police Officer Recruitment - The Recruitment Process |
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Please note that in order to ensure that the recruitment process is fit for purpose it is reviewed both at local and national level on an ongoing basis. Changes can therefore occur at anytime and it is important that you read any documentation sent to you carefully and you regularly check this part of the website. Competencies of a Police Officer • Effective Communication The ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively both verbally and in writing. The ability to listen effectively. The ability to give and receive information in a positive and accurate manner. • Team working The ability to work with others in a constructive and supportive way to achieve Force objectives. • Diversity and Community Focus The ability to treat people with fairness and dignity in respect of all members of the diverse community. • Personal Responsibility Honest with a mature outlook and socially aware. Can demonstrate assertiveness. • Resilience Is self disciplined, enthusiastic and motivated. Responds logically and decisively in demanding situations. • Problem Solving Able to take decisions in a manner appropriate to the situation and considering all relevant information. Although these competencies are mainly focussed upon during the Assessment Day and Senior Officer Interview they are critical to the success of a police officer and therefore they will be assessed in a less formal manner throughout the recruitment process. It is therefore critical to your success in the process that you do not demonstrate any adverse behaviour. Application Form You must fully complete the application form and accompanying documentation in a legible manner. It is essential that you complete all sections. If a section is not applicable then clearly mark it so. If you have missed out sections then your application will not be progressed. Once the form is received an assessment will be made to determine whether or not your application should progress. Previous convictions will be assessed on an individual basis and some minor offences may not exclude an application from proceeding, however it is extremely unlikely that a person with a serious conviction will be allowed to progress. No assessment will be carried out in relation to the medical criteria until the end of the recruitment process, therefore if you have any doubts you should contact our Health Care Providers on 01382 730073 for advice. Failure to pass the initial sift If you have failed at the initial sift stage you will be advised accordingly. The reason may not be given particularly if it relates to a vetting issue. Initial Interview This is a short interview that will take place to determine if you understand what you are applying for and whether or not you are deemed ready. You should prepare properly as although it may only take around fifteen minutes you must convince the panel that you have thought seriously about your application and you can demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively. This is a proper interview and a casual approach to it is not appreciated. Please also note that you will have to provide prove of identification at the interview including your driving licence. Failure to pass the Initial Interview The length of time you have to wait is dependant on your performance. You may have to wait three months, a year or if there if sufficient detrimental evidence we may not consider taking any future application. Standard Entrance Test If you successfully pass the initial interview you will be asked to sit a Standard Entrance Test (SET) later that day. The SET has three separate papers, each 30 minutes long, which cover Language, Numbers and Information Handling. All three papers must be successfully passed prior to moving to the next stage. If you pass the SET you will not have to resit this. In Tayside Police we currently do not require people to resit the papers they have already passed however this may be reviewed. For examples of the Standard Entrance Test click on the link below and you can download test papers. Click for specimen Standard Entrance Tests Failure to pass the Standard Entrance Test If you fail to pass the Standard Entrance Test the length of time you must wait is determined by the results you have achieved. The resit timetable is as follows :
Assessment Day If you pass all three papers of the Standard Entrance Test you will be invited to attend an assessment day where you will be tested against a set of agreed competencies (*See above). The day consists of a Group Exercise, Written Exercise and Structured Interview. Although the pass or fail is based on an overall score for the Assessment Day you may fail on any element of the day if it is deemed serious enough. The Assessment Day is regularly reviewed to ensure it meets the requirements of the Force. The Assessment Day has the highest fail rate in the process and therefore you should do all you can do to prepare for it. You know what the competencies are, make sure you are clear about how you can evidence these. A few words of advice though, the Assessors cannot assume knowledge about you, so do not think just because you tell them you can do something that they will believe you, provide examples to fully illustrate this. In the group exercise do not assume that because you think you know what the group should be doing the Assessors will psychically know this, demonstrate it clearly and/or discuss it with other members. Do not just use one answer to illustrate all the competencies. Although it may be very good we expect you to have done more than one thing in your life. Make sure the examples are also fairly current, using an incident from early childhood to illustrate team working for instance is of little use in this process. Failure to pass the Assessment Day Due to the large volume of applications we receive we cannot continually reassess people at the assessment day. It is for this reason, and to allow a candidate the opportunity to improve in the areas they scored badly in, that we have set a one year period before we will accept a reapplication. We may in exceptional circumstances allow an earlier application but this will only be considered if there is a significant reason for this. Background checks The Scottish Police Service is committed to the maintenance of the highest levels of honesty and integrity and to the prevention of corrupt, dishonest, unethical or unprofessional behaviour. Vetting is carried out on all applicants to the Scottish Police Service to ensure the reputations of the service and individual Forces' are maintained and their assets safeguarded. To help ensure that those with access to personal data are trustworthy, and unlikely to breach confidences vetting of candidates and relatives/known associates must be undertaken. It is therefore important that the vetting form is completed correctly; failure to do so may result in your application being terminated. Financial Police officers are in a privileged position with regard to access to information and could be considered potentially vulnerable to corruption. Applicants to the police service should not therefore be under pressure from undischarged debts or liabilities and should be able to manage loans and debts sensibly. Police Regulations also state that a member of a police force shall not wilfully refuse or neglect to discharge any lawful debt. Your application will therefore be checked to determine and verify your financial position. Most applicants have debts, such as mortgages, undischarged student or other loans, and credit/store card debts. Debts which are within your means and are manageable are not a bar to appointment.
Overall Assessment of suitability with regard to vetting will be done on a case by case basis taking into account all relevant information. The purpose of vetting is not to exclude suitable applicants but to ensure every reasonable action is taken to make sure that the successful candidates will maintain the high level of honesty and integrity required for the role. Failure to pass the Background Checks and References If you fail due to the back ground checks or references then the reason for failure will determine whether you are eligible to reapply. The reason for failure will also determine the period of time before you are eligible to reapply, if you are allowed to. Due to the confidential nature of the information held it may not be possible to advise you of the reason your application has been declined. If you wish to discuss any aspect of the vetting form or any issues it may have raised you should contact the Recruitment Team. Senior Officer Interview If successful in the Assessment Day you will be asked to attend a Senior Officer Interview where two senior officers (at Chief Inspector rank or above) will again test you against the agreed competencies set out above *. This interview will be a chance for you to prove to the officers, who may well be in charge of you, that you are right for the role. By this time in the process you should be sure of your reasons for joining and be clear about why you are suitable so you should be in a good position to pass it. However over-confidence is just as bad as a lack of confidence so make sure you are well prepared and that you have contacted the Recruitment Team to find out where you could improve from the Assessment Day. Failure to pass the Senior Officer Interview The same reasoning as for the Assessment Day applies to this. A minimum of a one year period prior to reapplication applies. Medical and Fitness Standard Medical Early in the recruitment process you will be given a medical questionnaire and an eyesight form to have completed ideally at least six weeks prior to the actual medical. These forms will only be looked at by our Occupational Health provider and will only be acted upon prior to the medical if there is further information required from your doctor, or the information provided calls into question your ability to carry out the role of police officer. Please note that the medical criteria are constantly under review so previous exclusions may no longer apply. Failure to pass the Medical If you have been failed due to a medical condition our occupational health provide will advise you of this and whether or not a future application would be considered in relation to the medical condition you have. Fitness Standard Tayside Police, along with all the other Scottish Police Forces, has introduced a new Fitness Standard for recruits. This standard will be expected from you throughout your probationary period and beyond therefore you should ensure that you take action to increase, if required, and maintain a suitable level of fitness. The role of police officer can be arduous and you may be faced with real physical challenges, it is therefore essential that you maintain a high level of fitness throughout your service. There are two elements to the standard, a cardiovascular test and an upper body strength test, although only the cardiovascular test will be used as a pass or fail assessment. The upper body strength test is currently being used only to collect statistical data. If you are either in the recruitment process or are thinking of applying to join you should read the guidance provided on the ACPOS website. If you have any questions regarding these changes please contact the recruitment team by emailing 
Details of the National Fitness Standard and information on how to train for it can be found on the ACPOS website. Failure to pass the Fitness Test If you fail to pass the fitness test at the first attempt you will have two further opportunities to pass. If you fail on the third attempt then you will require to wait a minimum of a year prior to reapplying. References and DVLA Checks A minimum of two character references and employment references for a period of up to five years will be requested. If you have no previous employment then a reference from a school or further education establish will be required. Checks will also be made with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency regarding your driving licence. Recruitment Pool If you have successfully passed all the elements of the recruitment process you will be placed in a recruitment pool and, all going well, be taken on at the next suitable date based on the date you completed the process. Recruitment is based on overall turnover and the finances available to the Force. There may therefore be periods where there a significant delay in being taken on, if this is the case then you may have to resit the fitness test and other elements including vetting to ensure you are ready and suitable to start. It is essential that if during any part of the recruitment your circumstances change you should notify, in writing, the Recruitment Team immediately and this includes being in the recruitment pool. Changes can include, but are not limited to, changes of address, family circumstances, being charged or convicted of an offence, change in financial circumstances, change in employment, etc. If you are in any doubt as to whether you should notify us in writing about a change please phone the recruitment team to discuss. It is your responsibility whilst in the pool to maintain your fitness and awareness of the issues affecting the police service. |
